Behavior

Predisposition is the capacity we are born with to
learn things such as language and concept of self. Negative
environmental influences may block the predisposition (ability) we
have to do some things. Behaviors
displayed by animals can be influenced by genetic predispositions.
Genetic predisposition towards certain human behaviors is scientifically
investigated by attempts to identify patterns of human behavior
that seem to be invariant over long periods of time and in very
different cultures. For example, philosopher Daniel
Dennett has proposed that humans are genetically predisposed to
have a Theory of
mind because there has been evolutionary selection for the
human ability to adopt the Intentional
stanceref stance. The
intentional stance is a useful behavioral strategy by which humans
assume that others have minds like their own. This
assumption allows you to predict the behavior of others based on
personal knowledge of what you would do.

Powerful evidence for genetic predispositions
towards certain patterns of human behavior comes from twin
studies. The idea that human behavior can have a genetic basis
has become controversial due to religious and politically-inspired
positions with respect to common human behaviors such as homosexuality.

Genetic discrimination in health insurance

In the United
States, individuals are at risk for loss of health
insurance if they are discovered to have genetic
predispositions for health problems. The National Center for Genome Resources
found that 85 percent of those polled think employers should not
have access to information about their employees' genetic
conditions, risks or predispositionsref poll. The U.S. federal government
has so far taken only limited measures against discrimination based on
genetic testingref laws.

There is pending U.S. legislation known as the
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act which directly
addresses the issue of discrimination by health insurance providers
and employers based solely on a healthy person's genetic
predispositions.